Chapter 43: The Enigmatic Thousand Tree Forest

In the vast Magic World, humans were just a small fraction of the overall population. Numerous races, such as Elves, Dwarves, Beastmen, Demons, Spirits, and Dragonkin, inhabited the magical realm. Despite centuries of conflict, humans had only managed to secure a portion of the land, now known as the Five Continents. The Central Continent served as the core power center for the human race, while my home, Mayhem Country, was located in the East Continent. Although the East Continent might not boast advanced technology like the Central Continent, it possessed its own unique specialty—the Thousand Trees Forest.

The name "Thousand Trees Forest" was a relic from the past, but in reality, the forest contained far more than a mere thousand trees. It had been given this name by previous generations and had remained unchanged. Looking at the forest from above, its expanse covered approximately 2.5 million square kilometers. Its sheer size alone indicated the vastness and magnificence of this monstrous forest. To this day, no one had ever claimed to have fully explored its depths, making it an ongoing challenge for mages.

As one of the largest remnants in the East Continent, the Thousand Trees Forest gained its fame not only from its size but also from the abundance of rare resources within its borders. If the resources in the Ghost Forest were considered plentiful, the resources in the Thousand Trees Forest were ten times greater.

Moreover, unlike the Ghost Forest, the Thousand Trees Forest was divided into several areas, with the outermost area being the safest and the innermost area the most perilous. It was this treacherous innermost region that prevented complete exploration of the forest. No matter how many mages the government had sent, all of their attempts had ended in failure, with some never returning at all.

For our graduation test, we would be restricted to the outermost area. Teachers and soldiers were stationed at the border between the outer and middle areas. This measure wasn't meant to restrict our movement, but rather to ensure the safety of all students. According to them, we were not yet qualified to venture into the middle area, and the outer area would suffice for our test.

Upon our arrival, the students were separated into boys and girls and directed to the changing rooms. We were required to change into standard military training suits and assemble in front of the entrance gate.

After quickly changing, I made my way to the assembly area. Gradually, students began to arrive until finally, everyone was present.

As we stood assembled, Mr. David, one of the teachers in charge of the test, walked to the front along with the other teachers.

"Everyone, as you all know, ten teachers from the school are here with you to ensure the smooth progress of this test. Some of you might think that ten teachers are many, but let me tell you, it's not enough. Danger lurks within this forest, and we can't have the teachers following all of you. Fortunately, the army has agreed to lend a helping hand. Alongside the ten teachers, they will also watch over you in case of any unexpected events. Now, let's welcome Captain Garz to the front."

As Mr. David spoke, a man in his forties stepped forward. He wore the standard army uniform and had a stern expression. With a scar over his right eye, he emanated a formidable and commanding presence, indicating his position of power within the military.

"Students, I won't waste time with pleasantries. The army has agreed to assist the teachers in this test, but let me remind you. We will not intervene unless absolutely necessary. Even if you sustain severe injuries, we will remain silent and take no action unless we deem it necessary. Lastly, none of you should dare enter the middle zone. Our side will not take any responsibility if you encounter an accident outside the allowed zone. Remember, your risk, your responsibility. That's all."

As expected from someone in the army, Captain Garz's words were direct and to the point, which suited me just fine. After he stepped back, Mr. David once again addressed us.

"Enough with the speeches. I believe all of you are intelligent enough to understand our intentions. Without further ado, I hereby announce that the test is officially beginning!"

"William, let's go," Sarah called out.

I quickly joined them, and together, we walked toward the entrance gate. Many students were already passing through, entering the forest. Our team followed suit, stepping into the forest as our test officially commenced.